Rawlings must give us a break - Kwabena Agyarko

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kwabena Agyarko has described as unfortunate former President Jerry Rawlings’ unwarranted attacks on his successor, ex-president John Agyekum Kufuor.

He said though Mr. Kufuor is not immune to criticism, it is ‘sickening’ the penchant of Mr. Rawlings to always launch scathing attacks on him [Kufuor] at any given opportunity.

Kwabena Agyarko’s reaction comes on the heels of Jerry Rawlings’ recent attack on Mr. Kufuor. In a statement issued to mark the 35th anniversary of the June 4 uprising, the former president accused the erstwhile Kufuor government of "setting in motion the moral and economic crisis that the nation is experiencing today".

But in a riposte, Kwabena Agyarko on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, said the former president is being economical with the truth.

He noted that the heightened corruption and economic mess is the by-product of the legacy Jerry Rawlings left behind after his nineteen year rule which he says forced Ghana to go HIPC.

Juxtaposing the two-term tenures of the two former Presidents, the Ayawaso West Wuogon MP said whilst Kufuor’s eight years presidency moved Ghana to a middle income status, in the era of Jerry Rawlings the economy declined and “we lost an opportunity to be at par with Singapore, Malaysia and Brazil”.

The NPP man asked the former president to “give us a break” since according to him, his [Rawlings] claims do not support the facts on the ground.

“Is Rawlings not tired after 35 years; what does he want us to do for him? As a former president he is a fountain of honour thus should behave as such” he stressed.

Kwabena Agyarko urged Mr. Rawlings to show some statesmanship and be circumspect in his public utterances especially against leaders in the country. Meanwhile, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon said the former president cannot be faulted for celebrating June 4.

He explained that “Rawlings has an emotional attachment to June 4 because but for that, he may have died by now so he should be allowed to celebrate it”.

The Deputy Minister proposed the former president to put his rich political experiences in writing so that the young politicians could tap from it.

Alexander Ackon said many young politicians especially in the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) see him [Rawlings] as their political mentor therefore a book about his life will be a great reference point for them.